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Because… Madigan!

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Illinois

* The problem…

* The solution! And check out that fantastic dot point #3…

Gonna see a whole lot more of these mailers before it’s all over.

* Oh, wait. I just happen to have a couple more. Side by side for your viewing pleasure…

* And the cookie cutter campaign is already getting on The Southern Illinoisans’ nerves…

Thumbs down to the thus-far unoriginal, uninspiring campaigns of Republican statehouse challengers Jason Kasiar and Dave Severin. Kasiar, of Eldorado, is challenging Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg; and Severin is challenging Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion. It’s not uncommon for the newspaper to receive back-to-back emailed statements from challenges Kasiar and Severin slamming their opponents for something going on in Springfield, and tying their opponents to House Speaker Mike Madigan. The problem is the messages sound so canned, and so unlike the way the candidates actually speak, that it’s hard to take them seriously. And they come from the same email address, one belonging to Aaron DeGroot, whose LinkedIn account says he is the downstate press secretary for the Illinois Republican Party. So much for our hope for independent voices of reason on the campaign trail.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:28 pm

Comments

These mailer are both good and original. The trouble is that the part that is good is not original and the part that is original is not good.

Comment by Saluki Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:30 pm
I think some of the commenters here are also writing mail for the Republicans. Like the geniuses that can’t figure out why it is either support for higher taxes OR support for more debt, but not both, that Democrats want.

It’s not just arithmetic they have trouble with. It’s also logic.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:32 pm
just got one of these on Wednesday aimed at Beiser. I know these things have an impact on some people, but they all go straight from the mailbox to the recycle bin at my house. I don’t even have to read them to know where they go. The only people that send me flyers of this shape are the politicos.

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:40 pm
===The problem is the messages sound so canned, and so unlike the way the candidates actually speak, that it’s hard to take them seriously. And they come from the same email address, one belonging to Aaron DeGroot, whose LinkedIn account says he is the downstate press secretary for the Illinois Republican Party. So much for our hope for independent voices of reason on the campaign trail.===

1) Hysterical that they went to DeGroot’s LinkedIn page. Bud, your “talent” to have canned responses leaves people with their heads needing scratching. That’s not speaking well to your alleged “talent”

2) It’s one think to have a saturation of message to work, it’s another when the messenger becomes the annoyance.

3) They’ve seen this movie downstate. It doesn’t mean they want to see sequels.

Dear Mr. DeGroot,

I know you are following orders. That’s your sin to your talent. That’s the shame.

Oswego Willy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:41 pm
I am so sick of this mess already, I will be happy when someone decides to say we are one state one illinois. Not divided by region.

Comment by austinman Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:42 pm
Dems do exactly same thing. Yawn!

Comment by Big R. Ph Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:43 pm
The problem with a lot of these mailers is that they look like ransom notes.

Or MySpace pages from 1995.

The GOP may have a stronger messaging strategy than the Ds, but they sure lack the visual design savvy to back it up.

And, yeah: who reads these? And who do these convince?

“Yeah, I was all-in for Madigan, but then I saw that mailer that came yesterday. Wow. That convinced me. Madigan is up to no good.”

Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:44 pm
Well said Willy!

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:44 pm
I live in the Western Suburbs and got a mailer today about my State Senator-Tax Hikes, Debt & Dirty Politics was the banner-Kind of odd as the fonts are different as are the colors-not to mention that the sources they cite are from publications way south of the western suburbs.

Comment by Cable Line Beer Gardener Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:44 pm
Well, Miss Bryant, let’s see your balanced budget then?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:45 pm
I have to admit, Madigan does look mean on a good day. A face made for opposition mailers!

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:45 pm
Is DeGroot the campaign side prince of snark?

Comment by sooo Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Not only do I throw flyers like these directly into the recycle bin…I deduct a point for mentioning a politician that is not on the ballot in the district in question. As in….Madigan is not on the ballot in Southern Illinois. This year, I’ll deduct 5 points if you mention Trump.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Dave Severin - Raised $100/$82 Cash on Hand compared to Phelps’ 600k.

Jason Kasiar - Raised $17,000 from a handful of people with $6,000 on hand compared to Bradley’s $600k.

Dale Fowler - Raised $40,000 with $20,000 COH. Forby has $400k COH. (Come on, Dale, you can do this!)

Comment by Southern Illinoisan Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:56 pm
These ads preach to the choir and alienate everyone else.
Thank you,
Illinois Democratic Party

Comment by Illinoised Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:58 pm
The republican candidates are bought and paid for by Governor Custer. They will have no original ideas if elected, so they get a campaign to match.

Comment by Saluki Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:00 pm
===Dems do exactly same thing===

True, but not so much in June.

Wake up and look around, dude.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:01 pm
This election cycle may single handedly save the US Postal Service.

Comment by Anonymouth Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:03 pm
I don’t get where the force in “tried to force” income tax rates to new highs. Especially when there are 177 who vote and he Madigan went along with Rauner on letting the two-penny income tax increase to fade.

But then, truth is usually the first casualty in politics.

Comment by Baruch Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:05 pm
My rep sent out a similar one. Bashing Madigan, and Chicago, and Madigan supporting Chicago seem to be the central themes. Rauner set those themes and now his minions mimic him. No solutions are offered by these GOP members, just attacks.

Comment by Joe M Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:09 pm
===True, but not so much in June.

Wake up and look around, dude.===

+1 Rich.

See me in August…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:09 pm
Terri Bryant will not fully fund education for our children. She has done a terrible job advocating for the SIU community, and to some degree the JAL College community, which makes up a large part of her constituency. This campaign mailer is a joke.

Comment by Saluki Matt Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:15 pm
I live in Bryant’s district but haven’t received one of these mailers yet. I hope I do so I can call her office and critique its absurdity.

Comment by Saluki Matt Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:18 pm
- will balance the budget without raising taxes
- will fully fund education
- will put a chicken in every pot
- will cure cancer
- will reunite Sonny & Cher

Comment by Pelonski Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Rather than recycling the junk mail, write “return to sender” and put back in the mail. The sender get to pay full price for the returned mailers.

One of the things that drives me nuts is the lack of understanding of government spending. If a government is not spending, they are not accomplishing their goals or providing services to the public.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:30 pm
I’m no fan of Father Pfleger, and I decry the inflammatory language surrounding inviting Rauner to explain himself to African-Americans, but really, is the Rauner Party’s public-relations machine any better?
There’s a reason it’s all dismissed as rhetoric.

Comment by Independent Retired Lawyer Journalist Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:30 pm
I’m no fan of Father Pfleger, and I decry the inflammatory language surrounding inviting Rauner to explain himself to African-Americans, but really, is the Rauner Party’s public-relations machine any better?
There’s a reason it’s all dismissed as rhetoric.

Comment by Independent Retired Lawyer Journalist Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:31 pm
- Pelonski - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:23 pm:

LOL! Thank you for that, you have my vote…

Comment by Jimmy H Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:41 pm
The more the ILGOP puts their faith in this kind of message that is completely devoid of integrity, the higher the likelihood they will get “Dunkin’d.”

“… Pants on Fire!”

Comment by cdog Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:42 pm
If we have State Reps and Senators who can promise to balance the budget without raising taxes, we must be VERY close to a budget deal.

But I’m not holding my breath.

Comment by Harry Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:45 pm
“will balance the budget without raising taxes”

Probably should add “believes in the Easter Bunny” to that flyer.

Comment by Graduated College Student Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:47 pm
The real news hear is that Rep Bryant has a plan to balance the state budget without raising taxes.

I’m sure she won’t tell us what it is until after November. But trust her. It’s gonna be great. Hooray!

Comment by Siriusly Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:49 pm
Dear Mr/Ms Saluki
Attacking someone from outside Chicago for bein’ a tool of Chicago is neither good, original or effective — at least for the last 40 year.
But keep P* that Rauner money away — he has a lot.

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 3:19 pm
Campaign mailers are like robocalls. Does anyone really read them? Republican or Democrat, they all take the express lane straight into my recycling bin with all the other junk mail.

Comment by SKI Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 4:00 pm
“- will reunite Sonny & Cher ” Aww, c’mon man. How about a real challenge, like The Beatles

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 4:38 pm